"We players want to play in the best competitions and the best is the Champions League. We had a target of getting into the top 10 at the start of the season and we are a very ambitious team. Who knows?"

The 29-year-old has also taken great pride from an improvement in the club's defensive record in their second season back in the top flight.

He said: "After the criticism we got last year it is a pleasure to be part of this defence, but it is only eight games and we know this league is a very long journey."

"There are 30 games to go and we know it will be hard to keep clean-sheets but we are working towards that.

"We will try every game to keep clean-sheets because it is something we are proud of. It is something the defence and the keeper look forward to.

"They say, good defences win championships. We will be trying but we know we have many good teams ahead of us in the Premier League."